10 Skills to Check Before Kindergarten—No Flashcards Required
The end of the school year always sneaks up on us—one minute we’re labeling snack containers, and the next we’re getting teary over tiny graduation caps and last-day photos.
Whether you’re a parent or a preschool teacher, this season brings a mix of celebration and questions. Did we do enough? Are they ready for what’s next? What should we be focusing on over the summer?
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the checklists and expectations around kindergarten readiness. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to measure success by comparison—you just need to know where your child is now, and how to support what comes next.
Milestone reviews should be a tool for insight, not pressure. In this article, we’ll walk you through what to look for, how to reflect on your preschooler’s growth, and how to move forward with clarity and confidence.
What Skills Matter—and How to Practice Them (Without Making It a Chore)
You don’t need fancy curriculum or hours of prep to help your preschooler build kindergarten-ready skills. With a few intentional routines and playful moments, you can turn everyday life into learning that sticks.
Here are 10 essential milestones and how to support them in ways that feel doable, even in the middle of real life:
Be Self-Sufficient in the Bathroom
Start by building independence in steps—like wiping, flushing, and washing hands. Use visual cues or a fun handwashing song to help them remember the routine. Bonus: let them “teach” a stuffed animal how to go potty—it builds confidence!
Dress Themselves
Practice buttons, zippers, and putting on shoes during calm moments—not in a morning rush. Make a game out of getting dressed in a specific order or challenge them to a “beat the timer” dressing race.
Hold Scissors Correctly
Start with play dough scissors or snipping old magazines. Try cutting along zig-zag paths or shapes printed on paper. Just five minutes a few times a week builds great fine motor skills.
Count to 10
Count everything—snacks, stairs, toy cars, goldfish crackers. Make it rhythmic or sing it in silly voices. Count forward, backward, or skip-count while bouncing a ball. Repetition in daily life helps it stick.
Write Their Name
Start with tracing, then move into copying. Use salt trays, sidewalk chalk, or write with finger paints to keep it engaging. Let them decorate their “name card” and hang it somewhere they can see and practice.
Know Some Letters and Letter Sounds
Introduce letters through their name and the names of people they love. Play “I Spy” with letters on signs, or match magnetic letters to items around the house (like “B” for ball).
Rhyme
Rhyming games can happen anywhere! Try: “Can you think of a word that rhymes with ‘cat’?” or make up silly nonsense rhymes together. Sing rhyming songs and read rhyming books—Dr. Seuss is your best friend here.
Have Good Sharing Habits
Use playtime to model and practice sharing. Board games and pretend play are great tools. Narrate moments of turn-taking: “You gave your friend the red block—what a kind choice!”
Communicate Their Wants and Needs
Offer sentence starters like “I need help with...” or “I feel...” and model using them yourself. Role-play scenarios with toys or dolls where someone asks for help, feels frustrated, or needs to solve a problem.
Separate from Their Grown-Ups
Start with short separations and a predictable goodbye routine: hug, kiss, and a confident “See you soon!” Let them know when you’ll return in terms they understand (“after snack time” or “when the sun goes down”). Read books about saying goodbye and reuniting.
Why This Matters (and Why It’s Okay If You’re Still Working on It)
Starting kindergarten is a big milestone—not just for children, but for the adults guiding them. And while it’s easy to get caught up in checklists and benchmarks, it’s important to remember: kids don’t need to know everything before day one.
But having a few key skills under their belt?
That can make all the difference—for their confidence and yours.
When kids feel capable doing things like asking for help, washing their hands, or recognizing their name, they step into new environments with a sense of ownership. They feel safe, secure, and ready to learn. That’s what we’re really aiming for—not perfection, but preparation with purpose.
And here’s the truth: the work you’re doing now—reading stories, practicing buttons, laughing through the chaos of snack time—that’s the good stuff. That’s what builds the foundation.
🧡 So don’t stress about what’s “not done.” Just keep showing up. Keep practicing in small ways. You’ve got time, and you’re not doing this alone
You’re Building the Foundation—One Moment at a Time
Kindergarten readiness isn’t a race—it’s a journey filled with everyday wins. Whether your child is zipping their coat for the first time, rhyming nonsense words in the car, or just trying a bite of something new—you’re doing the work that matters.
These end-of-year reflections aren’t about measuring perfection. They’re about noticing growth, celebrating progress, and making space for what comes next.
And if you’re looking for a little more structure, support, and ready-to-use tools—we’ve got you.
Enhance Your Educational Journey with the Teacher Partner Essentials
🧡 Our Teacher Partner Essentials are designed to help busy parents and preschool educators create consistent, joyful learning experiences—at home or in the classroom.
From behavior tools to routines to skill-building activities, you’ll find what you need to feel confident walking into this next chapter.
You’ve got this—and we’re right here with you.
Free Resource
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And don’t miss the FREE Kindergarten Prep Goals Checklist made by Peake Academy Preschool At Home—a simple, printable guide to help you track progress and build confidence.
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